GAA reps to launch Croke Park Classic between Penn State and UCF in USA

Penn State’s Nittany Lions will clash with UFC Lions on both sides of the Atlantic in the Croke Park Classic.psu.crokeparkclassic.com

Penn State University will host officials from Croke Park Stadium and Ireland’s GAA this weekend for the U.S. launch of the Croke Park Classic between the Nittany Lions and the UFC Knights. The teams will play for the Dan Rooney trophy, named after the Pittsburgh Steelers’ chairman and former ambassador to Ireland.

A delegation from Ireland, including GAA General Director Paraic Duffy and Stadium and GAA Commercial Director Peter McKenna, as well as members of the Irish media, will attend the game and continue making plans for next year’s season opener.

The two teams will meet in Dublin’s Croke Park on August 30, 2014, for their first international contest.

Rooney will attend the football game on Saturday. He and Duffy will participate in the traditional coin toss before the Penn State-UFC game.

Penn State officials are looking forward to welcoming the Irish delegation.

“The Irish are very excited about this game and our fans are excited about it,” said Dave Joyner, Penn State Director of Athletics. “It's a great way to give our football team and University a marquee location to play and visit.”

Joyner is confident that the Croke Park Classic will be a huge success.

“Because of the Irish people and their hospitality, Penn State fans are going to love their time there next August,” he told Penn State’s official sports news website, GoPSUSports.com.

Croke Park Classic game tickets are currently available only through the Official Penn State Tour website. Packages are available in a variety of price points, and include accommodations, transportation, tickets to the game and a range of activities such as excursion tours, a private party at the Guinness Storehouse, and much more.

Tickets for this Saturday’s Croke Park Classic at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA are available at www.GoPSUsports.com or by calling 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.